University students were being issued with antibiotics today after a teenager died of suspected meningitis.

The 19-year-old man, a second-year student at Liverpool University, was found dead in his room on Saturday.

Health Protection Agency chiefs believe meningococcal disease was to blame, but stressed that the risk to other students was low.

Alex Stewart, of the HPA's Cheshire and Merseyside health protection unit, said: "Meningococcal disease does not spread easily from person to person, and the risk to anyone else in the student population from this case would be very low indeed.

"None the less, we are treating close personal contacts of the student with antibiotics as a precautionary measure.

"We shall also be writing to other students and staff who shared the same accommodation to explain the nature of meningococcal infection and to reassure them that they are not at risk as a result of this case.

A university spokesman said: "The university is extremely saddened by this news. Our student welfare department will be contacting the family and we shall do all we can to support them.

"We are issuing information and advice to students and staff on meningitis and setting up a telephone helpline for anyone who may be concerned."

The student has not yet been named, and a post mortem was expected to take place today.

There were around 3,000 cases of meningitis and septicaemia - which occurs when meningitis-causing bacteria enter the bloodstream - in the UK last year, resulting in 300 deaths.

Students are the second highest risk group for the disease, which causes inflammation of the lining of the brain.

Last month, the Department of Health, in collaboration with the Meningitis Research Foundation and the Meningitis Trust, sent information packs to all student unions in the UK, explaining how to spot the signs of the disease. The packs contained posters, flyers and postcards.